1891
May 17
(no 4)
Afternoon on Rock Meadow.
Mass.
Belmont. - found our Bittern and watched him
for about two hours seeing him pump a great
many times. The observations which I made are 
described in detail in my systematic notes.
[margin]Bittern[/margin]
When, just as the sun was setting, the Bittern
rose and few across the meadow to beyond the 
oak island we were both chilled through and glad
to start the circulation again by a brisk walk
back around the head of the meadow to the 
road. The wind had now gone down and by
the time we reached the Willows it was dead
calm and many birds were singing their evening 
hymns; Red-winds and Swamp Sparrows in the meadow,
Cat-birds and Yellow Warblers in the thickets along
the wood. Wilson's Thrushes were calling on all sides
but none sang within hearing. After walking down
the road a couple of hundred yards we began to
hear Short-billed Marsh Wrens in their old haunt
in the tall grass on the south side of the causeway.
There were at least three males here and a fourth
was heard below (E. of) the oak island. Faxon noted
two in this meadow on the 15th.
[margin]Cistothorus stellaris[/margin]
  The Bittern next attracted our attention. He had
taken up his station in the meadow south of the 
oak island and by following in along the old
cart-path and threading our way cautiously through
the bushes, moving ahead when he pumped and
stopping while he was silent, we cam out on
the edge of the meadow within about 60 yards
of him without alarming him. Although the 
light was beginning to fail we got a fine
[margin]Bittern[/margin]